Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete evaluations and need for additional development, including obtaining in-service hospitalization records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and status post meniscectomy with scars, and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015.

All claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute mixed drug intoxication, and the Board finds that a remand is necessary to further develop both theories of entitlement regarding prescribed medications for service-connected disabilities and VA negligence.

The Board is remanding the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings due to new evidence indicating potential secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and squamous cell carcinoma. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the initial post-service year that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right knee disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral leg/knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's external left knee scar and determine if his internal left knee scar tissue is part of this condition.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 100% from December 26, 2013 to January 1, 2015 and at 30% afterwards. A TDIU is granted. The reductions of the Veteran’s bilateral knee instability ratings were not proper. The left hip replacement surgery rating needs to be reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. The claims of service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition are remanded, as is the claim for service connection for depression.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for symptomatic left knee meniscus removal from October 20, 2009 to September 5, 2012. The initial rating for left knee degenerative joint disease was denied as the symptomatology did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's GERD and cervical spine pain are granted service connection. The bilateral foot disability, right shoulder, knee, and ankle scars, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are all granted initial ratings of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a back disability, but denied service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities. The case of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee and left foot disabilities due to incomplete development, failure to comply with special procedures for homeless veterans, and incomplete consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected back disability. The issues of increased ratings for left wrist, lumbosacral spine, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, and his painful limited flexion of the left knee is separately rated at 10 percent. The bilateral ankle strains are each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service connection for schizophrenia and left ear hearing loss is granted, while his claims for back condition, neck condition, and bilateral knee condition are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and congestive heart failure as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's lower back disability, initially rated as lumbar osteoarthritis, is now rated at 40 percent from May 20, 2014, to December 21, 2017, with a 20 percent rating thereafter for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The left knee strain with shin splints remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle and hip disabilities.